Vans x Hedley & Bennett – Release Party Recap (Tons Of Pics!)

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Last Tuesday, Vans invited us to a special event at Hedley & Bennett, to celebrate the Made For The Makers collaboration.  There were tons of food, drinks, and desserts to go around, and a few fun activities where we got to share our creativity a bit.  There was an entire showcase of the collection, as well as the opportunity to purchase items from the pack, including the super cool apron.  The highlight of purchasing the apron on site, was that Vans had invited Ben Goetting, who I’ve followed and admired for awhile now, to lend his chain-stitching art to our apron, or any other piece that people were wearing.  That sort of got crazy, as people were lining up to have their own jackets and stuff stitched on, which was taking away from those who actually bought aprons to have stitched, but Ben saw that and quickly switched up his priority to those with aprons.  He was working hard and it was pretty warm in there, so we thanked him and helped get him some water, lol.

We ate some of the best catered food I’ve ever had, which was set up in their driveway sort of like a food festival, with many different vendors.  There was legit smoked BBQ on a custom hot rod themed rig.  There was authentic wood-fired flatbread pizzas being served up.  Amazing tacos, as well as some bomb ass cheeseburger sliders.  They were serving up Don Julio margaritas on the rocks, along with a few favorites from Golden Road, including my recent favorite, Mango Cart.  Inside the building, there was an amazing chips and salsa bar, with chicharrones, fresh guac, and the whole 9.  Tons of desserts to pick from, like cotton candy made on site, in some interesting flavors like mango with chili powder sprinkled on it, or vanilla with pop rocks!  Jeni’s ice cream all the way from Columbus, OH was in the house, serving up some bomb flavors along with the Vans folks cooking up some Vans waffles.  There was also a coffee bar, serving up some amazing brews.

The night’s festivities ended with a live band performance, which we didn’t stay for, so I couldn’t even tell you who it was.  We’d like to thank Vans and Hedley & Bennett for the hospitality, apron, and amazing food and drinks, and we are truly thankful for everything we get to take part in.  Thank you so much! – Bill

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Vans x Hedley & Bennett – Capsule Collection (Available Now!)

Vans has recently partnered up with L.A.’s Hedley & Bennett, to create this awesome collaboration under the “Made For The Makers” line, which ties right into their brand, known for creating workwear pieces for the kitchen and beyond.  Their main focal point is aprons, but they also make chef shirts, work shirts, chef socks, knife bags, and various other accessories.  If you haven’t heard of this brand before, then you’re just like me, uneducated in the kitchen and craftsman culture, but that’s perfectly fine.  That’s why we love Vans, because they continue to expose us to new worlds all the time, being “not just one thing”.  Word on the streets is, these are the aprons that all the cool folks are wearing.  Another fun fact, is that our old homie Ryan Aquino aka @ryanskeet from our old OTWS days, who helped lead the way on our OTWS x Yojie “Waffurusoru” Art Exhibition, was key in designing the shoes for this collection, while he was working for H&B, so congrats to him on that!  So freakin’ dope to see our homies to cool stuff.

The collection consists of a Sk8-Hi Reissue UC, Slip-On UC, and an Apron.  Here’s what H&B owner Ellen Bennett had to say about the design:

“For the Vans “Made For the Makers” line, we kept them FUNctional by pairing dark navy blue Vansguard canvas to hide spills and stains with rainbow lugged outsoles for increased grip and traction, and some UltraCush H&B ampersand sockliners for maximum all-day comfort. Then we added a touch more Hedley & Bennett fun with pops of orange throughout.

To complete the Vans x Hedley & Bennett “Made For The Makers” collection, we cooked up an exclusive apron that combines the Vans iconic checkerboard print and our best-selling Pho 8oz. stretch denim fabric.  Featuring checkerboard detailing on the adjustable neck strap and left lap pocket, this collab apron also includes subtle pops of orange and blue details, a double pen chest pocket, classic lap pockets, and brass hardware.

Whatever your hustle is, this collection is a reminder that you have the tools (and gear) to go after it.” – Ellen Bennett

The collection is now available online.

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Vans Skate x Ray Barbee – Half Cab Pro & Old Skool Pro (Available Now!)

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Words via Hypebeast:

“Vans has just released two special version to its Pro series of footwear. Teaming up with legendary skater Ray Barbee, the drop sees new colorways for the Half Cab Pro, and the Old Skool Pro model. As a nod to Barbee’s prevalence in the ’90s skate scene, an early pro-board elephant graphic was used in the lining of the shoes to pay homage to Barbee’s long-time friend, Salman Agah.

Coming in burgundy and emerald, for the Old Skool Pro and Half Cab Pro, respectively, the pro-tested models encompass all the subtle skate technology that Vans has been working on for decades; features like the high-impact UltraCush HD sockliner, sticky waffle sole compound, and the Duracap-reinforced uppers. Those interested can head over to the Vans Pro Classics website for more info.”

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Vans Japan x nonnative – Old Skool 36 Zipper (9.22.18)

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Words via hypebeast:

“Nonnative reunites with Vans for a duo of textural skate sneakers — this release centers around the low-top Old Skool Style 36. Once again, the laces are more visual appeal than functional detail, with the sneakers secured by zippers located on the tongues. Brown & black iterations both sport tonal checkerboard patterns on the sockliner and plain white midsoles, while the uppers utilize hairy suede for maximum visual appeal.”

Look for the exclusive sneakers to hit COVERCHORD’s site on September 22 for ¥17,000 JPY (approximately $150 USD).

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Vans Japan x mastermind – Old Skool V36 OG (Japan Only)

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Alert:  This is just a FYI post.  These already released in Japan on August 29th!

Words via Hypebeast:

“mastermind JAPAN returns with another collaborative pair of Vans. After issuing a series of revamped Mountain Edition sneakers, the Japanese label has its sight set on the Old Skool V36 OG. The trim silhouette is nearly identical to an ordinary pair of Old Skools at first glance, with a monochrome colorway, white Jazz Stripe and matching laces. Special detailing comes in the form of a black mastermind-branded midsole, which travels around to the rear of the shoes, continuing beneath a black Vans license plate tag. A suede panel at the back sports an embroidered mastermind skull logo, tying in with the tonal suede toebox.”

The upgraded skate shoes exclusively hit California Dept.’s web store on August 29.

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Vault By Vans x Wood Wood – OG Era LX (Available Now!)

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Words via Wood Wood:

“As part of the Wood Wood Fan Club capsule collection, Wood Wood has teamed up with Vans to create a special edition of the iconic Vans Era model. Built on the OG version of the low-top canvas shoe which has a slightly thicker sole unit than the regular Era, the VANS® FANS Era features a clean white/off-white palette, red Vans flag branding and big bold VANS® FANS lettering on the outsole. The imperfect printing and slightly tilted letters highlight the DIY spirit of fan culture. The Wood Wood Fan Club capsule collection is a celebration of fan culture and teenage obsession and features a range of W.W. apparel styles.”

Available Now from Wood Wood for $107 USD.

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Vault by Vans x Opening Ceremony – Toile Pack OG Classic Slip-On LX (Available Now!)

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Vans for OC’s toile pack features Vans’ classic slip-on sneakers with printed canvas uppers inspired by Chinoiserie, the traditional design of Chinese porcelain ware.  Available in Red or Blue, with Marshmallow accents.  Pick them up from Opening Ceremony now.

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Vault by Vans x Disney – Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary “True Original” Pack (8.25.18)

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Words via Vans:

“Deep Southern California roots bring Vans and Disney back together again, this time, to celebrate 90 years of Mickey Mouse. Honoring the optimistic attitude and loveable nature of Mickey Mouse on his birthday, Vault by Vans and Disney collaborate with four iconic artists – John Van Hamersveld, Mister Cartoon, Geoff McFetridge and Taka Hayashi, to create one-of-a-kind artwork featuring the beloved Disney “True Original.”

In a unique, well-rounded collection, each of the artist’s custom Mickey Mouse rendition is featured on Vans’ iconic silhouette, the OG Sk8-Hi LX, as well as a short-sleeved tee to present a well-rounded offering.

With a mutual passion for California culture, renowned illustrator and graphic designer
, John Van Hamersveld is continuously recognized 
for his influential graphics and images that are quintessential markers of Southern California culture. Best known for his psychedelic patterns and vibrant color schemes, he is a pioneer in the worlds of art, music, and surf—blending these genres perfectly into his extensive repertoire. For this collection, Van Hamersveld produces bright, punchy graphics featuring the one and only Mickey Mouse.

Legendary tattoo artist Mark Machado, more famously known as Mister Cartoon, is a Mexican-American artist born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Mister Cartoon is recognized and sought after for his richly detailed hand-rendered style of fine line tattooing—a technique that uses diluted black ink to create shadows and depth. What sets his work apart is the textural intricacy and stunning details of his three-dimensional- appearing works. His contribution to the collection depicts a black and grey illustration of the iconic “True Original” mouse driving a vintage car.

To bring a minimalistic and surreal illustrative style to the collection, Vault by Vans and Disney worked with Geoff McFetridge, Canadian designer, illustrator, and animator based in Los Angeles. McFetridge’s work intuitively ignores creative boundaries and spans a broad range of art media. The versatility and simplicity in his work is balanced by the use of elegant line drawings and paintings. His design captures Mickey Mouse in a unique pattern, highlighting his iconic colors – black, red and yellow.

Vault by Vans mainstay, Taka Hayashi, completes the collection with his commitment to detailed craftsmanship and unique design approach. Hayashi’s design features an unexpected hit of pink, conveying a Mickey Mouse inspired hot air balloon.”

The Disney x Vans collaboration retails from $78 to $100 and launches globally on August 25, 2018 at select Vault by Vans accounts. Learn more about this special project at vans.com/vault.

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Vault x Blends x Born-Free 10 – Sk8-Hi Reissue LX Black (8.18.18)

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Now, we know these are a few months late, but sometimes shit happens!  Born-Free hosted their 10th motorcycle show back at the end of June, and although the show went on without a hitch, there was one piece missing from the puzzle, and that was the Vault by Vans and Blends, annual sneaker that coincided with the event.  Well, some things are worth waiting for, and this next edition of BF Vans should be one of them.  We’re now going on 3 years of this special edition shoe, and you can guess that the shoe didn’t stray far from it’s original aesthetic.  The same OG-inspired classic colorways are still present, and the signature red, white, and blue triple jazz stripe is back in all it’s intended glory.  This time, we get another Sk8-Hi, in black instead of navy blue like last year’s pair.  It’s perfect.  Subtle, yet enough to let on that these are “Born Free” editions.  The same clear checkerboard waffle soles are back, as well as custom woven tags on the tongue.  They’re finished off with custom printed logos on the footbeds.  Since obviously, the show has passed for this year, Blends will be releasing these this Saturday at all of their retail locations, as well as online.  We’ve enclosed a few undoctored pics from an iphone, so you can get a natural look of the shoe, as well as a few on-foot pics.  Enjoy!

Follow @Blends for more info and release times.

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Vans Skate x Independent – Fall/Winter Collection (Available Now!)

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Words via Hypebeast:

“Skateboarding mainstays, Vans and Independent, are once again joining forces on limited footwear and apparel. The duo just unveiled their largest capsule yet for the Fall/Winter 2018 season to celebrate Independent’s 40th anniversary this year. Classic silhouettes such as the Sk8-Hi Pro and Slip-On Pro are purveyed in bold makeups alongside a fresh take on Tony Trujillo’s signature shoe, the TNT Advanced Prototype. All sneakers sport metallic silver foxing stripes coupled with Vans’ signature rubber outsoles.

The apparel range is comprised of the Vans Versa hoodie, woven flannels, coveralls, T-shirts, Authentic Chino pants, socks, and trucker hats. Co-branded details alongside vintage graphics are observed across the lineup. View the photos above and purchase the collection now on Vans’ online shop and select stockists.”

CLICK ON THE PIC ABOVE TO SEE AND PURCHASE THE COLLECTION ON VANS.COM!

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